Letters to the editor for Monday, June 24, 2013

Published: Monday, June 24, 2013 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 4:15 p.m.

Shelter is a crucial first step

Over the past few months, the Volusia County Council has been approached by several people and organizations concerning the right approach to sheltering the homeless. My organization, H.O.M.E. of Daytona Beach, was founded three years ago for the purpose of advocating for a homeless shelter. After those three long years, most who are involved in social services are in agreement that there needs to be a homeless shelter in Volusia County.

Ultimately, the County Council will make the decision (or decisions) on how to approach the street homeless issue. Therefore, I am asking for careful consideration of the options that will best serve the street homeless population.

I am asking assurance that the needs of everyone suffering the indignities of life on the street are addressed. Men and women who do not suffer from a diagnosed disability, or who are not in and out of the criminal justice system, are often overlooked. Men and women who just find themselves on the wrong side of advantage, for whatever reason, also need a safe alternative to sleeping on the street.

Those who find themselves experiencing homelessness, and who do not have a diagnosed disability, are often expected to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. However, it is not easy (I speak from experience) when you do not get proper rest or, worse, no rest. There is a serious gap in services for street people who do not have a disability. Realistically, their only option is to help themselves. Programs provided by social services agencies that offer transitional or permanent housing do not extend assistance to most men and women living on the street.

Every successful program that deals with homeless men and women who suffer from a diagnosed disability or who are trying to rehabilitate themselves from a life of careless behavior begins with providing them with a safe place to sleep. To overcome homelessness, everyone needs a safe alternative to sleeping on the street.

I encourage the County Council to pick a shelter proposal that will be able to provide everyone who seeks shelter with a place to go.

I am optimistic that good things are going to happen.

BRAD CARTER

Daytona Beach

Carter is president of H.O.M.E. of Daytona Beach Inc.

Furious over gotcha cams

I wish to add my name to the list of those seething with resentment at the "shakedown" of law-abiding citizens who are at the mercy of those who dreamed up these "traffic solutions" — red-light cameras! I just received a fine through the mail of $158, a huge sum of money for one on a fixed income. I would never dream of driving carelessly, much less running a red light. I was alarmed at learning that every person I spoke to at a local beauty salon had also received a fine for the very same offense. No one that I spoke to impressed me as being a deliberate "cowboy" on the road.

Something is very wrong in Palm Coast. These exorbitant fines resemble protection money paid to the mob. Revenue enhancing indeed! It leaves one sickened and disgusted with the "powers that be" in our city.

CHARLOTTE VENETIANER

Palm Coast

A fleeting flash of amber

Leaving church on May 26, I was in the westbound left-turn lane on International Speedway Boulevard at the Ridgewood Avenue intersection. I was the fourth car in line. When the green arrow came on, my line proceeded to turn left. As I was just across the crosswalk, the light turned yellow — then turned red as I was turning on to Ridgewood.As a result, I was given a $158 ticket for running a red light.

I have paid my fine, but I want to warn others of Daytona Beach's "Georgia speed trap."

By my calculations, the time for the arrow to go from green to red is 10 seconds. The time for the yellow to go from yellow to red is just three seconds. Common sense would dictate that such a busy intersection would have a turn arrow longer than this to move traffic along. Why doesn't it? The obvious conclusion would be that this is to generate income. Fair warning: don't let this happen to you.

RAY PINKLEY

Port Orange

Timing must be fair

Good article on June 16.

I have been in favor of the red-light cameras because I thought that they would prove who ran the light when a collision occurred. Some recent incidents have made me question the motives of the officials, and how this has made people question the value of the cameras. I have never received a red-light camera citation.

I was taught at the police academy in Miami in 1971 that there was to be 1 second of amber for each 10 mph of the posted speed limit. I am unaware of any change.

A vehicle is traveling approximately 1.5 feet per second of its indicated speed — for example, 40 mph equals 60 feet per second. Drivers must have time to decide to continue or stop.

I support good law enforcement but it must be fair. Too many drivers make the roads more unsafe than they should be, and they deserve penalties for violating the laws.

A. DENTE

Daytona Beach

On the right side of history?

Being involved with the tea party and 912 groups from the beginning, I had always hoped we were wrong. I have been driven from deep inside of me to attend rallies and events all over the country. I am grateful for all that I learned, but sad to see where we have been right on every concern.

I am heading back to D.C. on Wednesday to stand with some brave congressmen who are standing up for us. I understand how people are consumed with their families, jobs, and life in general. I understand not wanting to talk about the political problems in this country. I can really comprehend why someone would not be too interested in a group of Americans being denied nonprofit status by the IRS. Even though that is a civil rights and Bill of Rights issue.

What I can't understand is how American taxpayers can quietly fund and arm rebels in Syria, like the leader Abu Sakkar, who cut out the organs of a soldier he had just killed and ate them. Time is up, America. You need to take sides or be ready to take the consequences. We are on the wrong side in these latest wars, and we will pay a horrible price for our complacency. This is not a Democrat or Republican thing, because they are both guilty of backing these terrorists in the Middle East.

Alexis de Tocqueville once said, after a long study of the new country called America: "America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."

KEITH WILSON

DeLand

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